CHRISTMAS IN GRAVENHURST -

CAN YOU HEAR THAT? HISTORY DOES MAKE A SOUND WHEN IT FALLS IN THE FOREST - THE FOREST FROM WHICH THIS TOWN WAS CARVED

THE PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH BEING HISTORICALLY INCLINED, IS THE FREQUENT SENSORY OVERLOAD WE EXPERIENCE, RE-KINDLING THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS, THAT WHILE NOT EVIDENT IN THE PRESENT TENSE, HAUNT US IN IMAGINATION. SO VIVIDLY AND POIGNANTLY THAT WE CAN FEEL THE VIBRATION IN THE GROUND OF AN APPROACHING…… IRON HORSE, AS WE CLING RATHER PRECARIOUSLY ON THE THIN EDGE OF A PAST ERA, WE WISH NOT TO LOSE OUR CONNECTION……HOWEVER THIN IN RECOLLECTION THAT MIGHT BE, IT'S RESILIENT ENOUGH TO HOLD OUR COLLECTIVE WEIGHT. FOR NOW, AT LEAST.

WE CAN WITHOUT A MOLECULE OF IMAGINATIVE EFFORT, ON A COLD WINTER'S EVE, HEAR THE MUFFLED, DISTANT RHYTHMIC THUMPING OF AN OLD STEAM ENGINE, CHUGGING ALONG THE SILVER RAILS, SPARKING IN THE FULL MOONLIGHT, AGAINST THE PALE WHITE SNOWSCAPE. WE CAN SEE THE HAND-HELD LANTERN BEING SWUNG BACK AND FORTH ON THE RAIL PLATFORM, AS IF SOMEONE IS COMING TO MEET US…….TO TELL US TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, AS THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN WILL ARRIVE IN MOMENTS……ON SCHEDULE AS USUAL.

THE FAMILIAR STEAM WHISTLE CUTS THROUGH THE FROSTED-MIST THAT RISES OUT OF THE BOGGY HOLLOWS. THE SHRILL WHISTLE AND CLANGING BRASS BELL ARE FAMILIAR, AND WELCOME INTRUSIONS ON A TOWN'S SOLITUDE. ALL TRAVELLERS, IN FACT, AND IN HEART'S DESIRE, ARE WARNED OF THE NEXT TRAIN'S ARRIVAL AT THE SOFTLY ILLUMINATED PLATFORM. THERE IS A SCHEDULE TO UPHOLD. PASSENGERS TO TAKE ON, AND TO LET OFF; KITH AND KIN TO BID FAREWELL, AND TO GREET ONCE AGAIN. IT IS A SOULFUL PLACE THIS OLD WOOD STATION, WITH ITS LAMPS SO BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL.

YOU CAN NOW HEAR THE SCREECH OF BREAKS AGAINST THOSE GREAT IRON WHEELS, AND THE FURY OF STEAM PUSHING TO GET OUT INTO THE COLD NIGHT AIR……AS THE PASSENGER CARS PULL ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE STATION. BUNDLED UP FOLKS, WITH BREATH-STEAM RISING OVER THEIR HEADS, EXTEND HANDS TO THE ARRIVALS, PATS ON THE BACK, AND HUGS FOR THOSE NOW DEPARTING. HOW MANY TIMES HAS THIS SCENE BEEN REPEATED. SMILES AND WINKS, STOIC GLARES, DISAPPOINTED EYES, CONTENTMENT TO BE HOME, SORROW TO LEAVE AGAIN, TEARS OF HAPPINESS, WELLED UP EYES CONCEALED, BEHIND THE WAVE OF A HAND, THE COMMUNITY COMES, THE COMMUNITY GOES, BUT A HOME TOWN REMAINS A LANDMARK. A FAMILIAR PLACE TO ONE DAY RETURN FOREVER.

THE SOUND OF A FREIGHT CART FULL OF LUGGAGE, CRUNCHES OVER THE NEWLY FALLEN SNOW, AND THE SQUEAK OF SO MANY SHOES, SOUNDS LIKE A CHRISTMAS CHORUS, AS FOLKS GATHER CLOSER TO GESTURE THAT FINAL WAVE TO THOSE ONBOARD. EVEN THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW THIS PLACE, BEING FROM ANOTHER HOMETOWN, TOWARD ANOTHER DESTINATION, WILL WAVE OUT OF FRIENDSHIP AT THOSE BEING LEFT BEHIND.

AS GRAND AS ITS LANTERN LIGHT FELL NOSTALGICALLY UPON THOSE GATHERED AT THE STATION, AND ITS FRIENDLY CHUG HAD ARRIVED, THE ENGINE BELLOWS ITS INTENTION TO PASS THE TRAFFIC INTERSECTION, AND STEAM UP THE LINE STRETCHING TOWARD THE HORIZON, SHADOWED BY THE OLD BUILDINGS THAT LINE ITS TRACKS. THERE IS A SCHEDULE TO KEEP. MILES TO GO BEFORE IT SLEEPS. "ALL ABOARD," IS NOW EVEN JUST AN ECHO OF TIME PAST. A MEMORY OF THE WAY WE WERE.

ALAS, WE ARE HISTORICAL DREAMERS, STANDING AT THAT STORIED PLATFORM, BEING PLEASANTLY HAUNTED BY WHAT HAS PASSED, ANTICIPATING WHAT WILL COME AROUND THAT BEND, ONCE MORE…..IF WE ALLOW OURSELVES THE PRIVILEGE OF THIS INCLINATION;….. TO REMAIN, YOU SEE, HEARTFULLY ATTACHED TO THE HERITAGE, OF WHICH WE ARE SINCERELY HONORED, TO BE ITS FAITHFUL SERVANT.

THE HISTORIAN'S LAMENT.

A SHORT SKETCH OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE VILLAGE OF GRAVENHURST - THE EARLY GATEWAY TO THE REST OF MUSKOKA

"TEN YEARS AGO, THE PRESENT SITE OF THE VILLAGE OF GRAVENHURST, WAS A WILDERNESS OF PINE WHICH FLOURISHED IN ALL THEIR PRIMEVAL GRANDEUR. BUT, AS THE RESOURCES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE COUNTRY BECAME GRADUALLY KNOWN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, EAGER IMMIGRANTS FROM THE MOTHER COUNTRY (ENGLAND), AND LAND SEEKERS FROM THE OLDER SETTLEMENTS CAME HERE; AMONGST THOSE, MESSRS. JAS. SHARP, SENIOR; DAVID WRIGHT, JOSEPH BROCK, EDWARD AND JAMES HEWITT, AND JAS. McCABE, THE LAST PARTY ALSO BEING PROPRIETOR OF THE FREE MASON ARMS, HOTEL. THE PROGRESS OF GRAVENHURST AND VICINITY WAS NECESSARILY SLOW FOR A FEW YEARS." THOMAS MCMURRAY, 1871. THE YEARS OF WHICH THE AUTHOR OF "MUSKOKA AND PARRY SOUND," WAS REFERRING, WAS THE EARLY 1860'S.

I POSSESS AN ORIGINAL COPY OF THIS BOOK, WHICH WAS HANDED DOWN TO ME, BY MY MOTHER-IN-LAW HARRIET STRIPP (NEE SHEA), AND HER FAMILY REPRESENTED SOME OF THE EARLIEST SETTLERS TO THE UFFORD AND THREE MILE LAKE AREA OF MUSKOKA. THE BOOK HAD BELONGED ONCE TO HER FATHER JOHN SHEA. AS A FLEDGLING HISTORIAN, AT THE TIME OF MY MARRIAGE TO SUZANNE, THIS WAS A VERY GREAT HONOR, BECAUSE IT WAS BOTH AN EXPENSIVE AND EXTREMELY RARE COPY OF EARLY MUSKOKA HISTORY. IT'S A LITTLE RAGGED AND ITS USE OVER THE CENTURIES IS OBVIOUS. BUT IT SERVES TO REMIND ME TODAY, JUST WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN THIS SETTLEMENT, AND OTHER VILLAGES IN MUSKOKA, WERE COMMENCED BY THE FIRST HOMESTEADERS.

"Messrs. P. Cockburn & Sons, commencing lumbering operations in the country during the winter of 1865-66, gave an impetus to industry and advancement previously unknown; they purchased logs from the settlers and gave them employment during the winter months, soon convincing the inhabitants that pine trees were useful for other purposes than being burnt to ashes. Mr. A.P. Cockburn, MPP, contributed very materially about this time to the welfare and progress of the settlement by placing a steamer on Muskoka Lake, built near Gravenhurst wharf, and known as the 'Wenonah;' he also opened a general store, distinguished as the 'Montreal Store,' - since that the country has steadily progressed," wrote McMurray.

It would be hard, I believe, to find a more risky period for the speculating businessman, than at this period of the village's development. They saw something…..knew something, and could sense that this area had untold potential, despite the hardships that prevailed upon everyone setting foot in the Canadian wilds. It was an adventure, and some did lose their stake. Many homesteaders did move on, after only a short stay. Others remained for generations, and if you scan through a modern day phone book, you will see some of their surviving family. If you get truly adventurous, and take a stroll through the cemeteries of this town, large and small, you will see these same names…..the folks who braved the truly tough times, and did what they had to do, in order to make this stake in the pine woods pay off.

"Gravenhurst is pleasantly situated on a gentle declivity between Muskoka Bay and Gull Lake; it is a distance from Toronto, of 106 miles; from Orillia, 26 miles; from Severn Bridge, 12 miles; and from Bracebridge, 11 miles. It is connected to Lake Couchiching by a new plank and gravel road constructed during the past summer. The principle buildings are Brown's Hotel, Mr. Cooper's new building, the Queen's Hotel, the stores of Messrs. Cockburn & Co. and George Clarke, the Episcopalian Church. Messrs. Sibbald & Chamberlain are building an extensive shingle mill, and Messrs. Cockburn & Co. a steam saw mill; a planing machine and sash and door factory are also to be run in connection with the saw-mill.

"A.P. Cockburn, Esq., is constructing a fine new steamer on Muskoka Bay, which he expects to launch in the month of April next. I might mention that James Sharp, senior, is general agent for the different steamers, and the 'Union Line,' at Gravenhurst. The lumbering firm of Hotchkiss, Hughson & Co. have an office at this point. The only place of worship at present, are the English Church and school house. Two new churches and a public hall are in contemplation. The medical profession is represented by Dr. J. Adams, of Nova Scotia. Amongst the expectations are the Toronto, Simcoe and Muskoka Junction Railway, and a branch of Montreal Telegraph Line. Being situated at the fork of navigation, Gravenhurst does a large and increasing trade. The steamer Wenonah calls at the wharf twice each day. The village is favored with a daily main, with a through mail from Toronto during the season of navigation."

I'm going to guess, that most of the readers of this blog….and an overwhelming majority of citizens residing in our community today, have never read this before, and have no real use for the information today. Our kids don't know about it……teenagers generally have better things to do than worry about history,…..adults generally, are too busy to make it a priority study, and many seniors who have come here to retire…..well, it's interesting, and some have made an attempt to know more about their new town……but facing reality, it's not a really big deal. Those older residents, with roots going back several generations, to the extreme of having relatives who swung those axe blades into those stands of pine, it is a big deal…..a proud recollection of how it all began. As for the re-telling of this history, it's just not popular or demanding enough to inspire a new breed of hale and hardy historians, to take up the task…..once us old farts are gone. Now if it still doesn't seem like it's an important issue……after all, historians are such a pain the arse with all their old books and dog-eared photographs, you tell me how many historians we have in our community today. Guess the average age. Now, can you name….count, whatever, how many young, budding historians are out there, in seed, ready to spring into action, to teach, defend and conserve the history we know so little about……other than from books that sit on dusty shelves?

As I sit here and write this tome, I've probably got one foot on a banana skin myself….I am in my mid 50's, and feeling more like 70, and it's not funny or anecdotal in any way, to think about the chain of command here……and each one of us, in the history game, knows that we don't have an end-game……as we don't like to think about the fact we're dodging coffins…..and we haven't lined up replacements to carry on. It's a problem. Believe me. It's just not a profession that garners eager beaver community historians, because of the great adventure. As an historian, I don't get invited to parties……because they all know, historians like to talk about the past…..when everyone else is contemporary. I dated and married the only girl in Muskoka, at the time, who was as sensitive to the past, as I was. While she is as close as spitting to United Empire Loyalist stock, I can lay claim to the UEL label, as my family fled the Revolutionary War to come to this great land. Still doesn't inspire ya? Right? It's okay. There's nothing wrong with that at all. If you survived High School history, you probably vowed never to go back. I was one of a thousand who graduated, and signed up for more of the same at university.

There's a great living history in our community. You folks. As our town was built by the hands and labors of courageous settlers, and newcomers for generations, right up to the present…..you know, that homestead standard of caring about the place you live, and investing in a good neighborhood, still applies. The words of Thomas McMurray, in 1871, can be updated to 2011, if anyone was truly interested in the relevance of what happened in the past……being something worth saving, as a standard, a foundation, of so much yet to come. Yet there is a worry, amongst historians generally, that there is a growing disinterest in including heritage into our modern community life and times…..and unfortunately, we also can't muster much of a fight…..beyond writing some books, feature articles, and blogs……admittedly small arms, compared to the coming influx of new plans, big projects, urban stresses……and nary an historian left to fight the good fight. Will you at least read our books when we're gone?

THAT HAUNTING STEAM WHISTLE IS A DISTANT REALITY TO US OLD GEEZERS, US DAYDREAMERS, WHO STILL CHERISH HERITAGE MATTERS…..AND FIND IT NO HARDSHIP WHATSOEVER, TO LIVE FROM ONE CENTURY TO ANOTHER, WITHOUT THE FEAR, WE MIGHT GET STUCK IN THE PAST……AND NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN WHEN DEMANDED. AS A RIPPING HORN BLAST FROM A TRAIN JUST NOW, CUTS THROUGH THE DECEMBER AIR, WE LOOK AT IT AS HISTORY TOMORROW, AND ENJOY THE AMBIENCE ALL THE SAME.

THERE IS STILL A BELL, IF YOU LISTEN CAREFULLY, JUST NOT THE SAME AS THE OLD FROSTED BRASS AND CLANGER, THAT SO CHEERFULLY ANNOUNCED THE ARRIVAL, ON THOSE WINTER SCHEDULES OF ONCE…….ALONG THESE SAME SILVER RAILS. THE RAILS THAT HAVE LED FROM HERE TO THERE, PLACES LOCAL, REGIONAL, PROVINCIAL AND MORE;….. A LINK TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, IN PEACE AND IN WAR-TIME. THOSE IRON RAILS LED FOLKS TO US, AND THEN AWAY FROM US, AND WE THINK ABOUT THOSE OCCASIONS ON THAT MOONLIT PLATFORM, IN JOY AND SORROW, IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD.

PITY THE HISTORIAN NOT……FOR WE CHOOSE TO REKINDLE IT ALL, AS IT IS THE CENTRE OF ALL WE HOLD RELEVANT, TO HOW WE BECAME A TOWN IN THE FIRST PLACE……THE INTERACTIONS OF SO MANY INFLUENCES OVER SO MANY DECADES, THAT PROFOUNDLY CHANGED OUR OPINIONS BUT NEVER OUR FORTITUDE. WE HISTORIANS ARE A PATIENT LOT, AND IN SPIRIT, WE STILL STAND ON THESE PLATFORMS, AWAITING THE VERY NEXT ARRIVAL…..AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE NECESSARY DEPARTURE. WHILE YOU MIGHT NOT BELIEVE IT, IF WE TOLD YOU, THERE ARE COLD, MOONLIT NIGHTS LIKE THIS, WHEN YOU CAN HEAR THOSE FORMER WHISTLE BLASTS, OF SOME PHANTOM TRAIN, COMING TOWARD THE STATION…..SUCH THAT YOU MIGHT, EXPECT, AT ANY MOMENT, FOR THE LAMP BEAM TO BEND ROUND THE CORNER. YOU SEE, THERE IS A PLEASANT MADNESS BEING HISTORICALLY INCLINED. AND IF SOME OF US FEAR THERE ARE LESS OF US TO CARRY THE TORCH, FORGIVE US, FOR FEARING HISTORY MIGHT ONE DAY FAIL ENTIRELY, TO DELIVER THESE ENCHANTMENTS OF IMAGINATION.

TO KEEP HISTORY ALIVE, REQUIRES RESPECT FOR HOW IT ALL BEGAIN. STEWARDSHIP OF HOMETOWN VALUES IS AT STAKE. THAT IS A FADING WHISTLE FOR US ALL.